In 2012, Slovenia was visited by a record number of tourists

According to the final data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 3.2 million arrivals of tourists were recorded in Slovenia in 2012, which is 2% more than in 2011; moreover, tourists generated 9.4 million overnight stays or 1% more than in the best year so far, 2011. The record for tourist visits is primarily a result of more visits from foreign markets (+6% with arrivals and overnight stays), while domestic guests generated 3% fewer arrivals and 5% fewer overnight stays in comparison with 2011.

Despite the sharpened economic situation, encouraging growth from foreign markets was recorded in 2012. Slovenia was visited by 2.1 million tourists (+6%) who generated 5.7 million overnight stays(+6%). Good results were recorded from the traditionally important markets, such as Germany (+9% arrivals and +7% overnight stays) and Austria (+8% arrivals and +3% overnight stays). Despite slightly lower results, Italy remains on the top with regard to the number of tourists and overnight stays (Italians generated almost 1 million overnight stays in 2012).

In 2012, positive trends also continued from the market of the Russian Federation (36% more overnight stays), Holland (26% more overnight stays) and transmarine markets of Japan (19% more overnight stays) and China (+38% arrivals and +8% overnight stays), which points out a large potential for these markets in the future.

In 2012, more than one third (40%) of all overnight stays were generated in spa municipalities, followed by mountain municipalities with 23% of generated overnight stays and coastal municipalities with 14% of generated overnight stays. In 2012, the highest growth of overnight stays according to municipality type was recorded by the Slovenian capital Ljubljana (+7.7%).

The first temporary data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia has been released for the first month of 2013; unfortunately, it interrupted the good tourist statistics. Namely, 9% fewer arrivals and 10% fewer overnight stays by tourists were recorded in tourist accommodation facilities in January 2013 in comparison with January 2012 (the number of arrivals of domestic tourists was 8% lower, the number of their overnight stays,9% lower; the number of arrivals by foreign tourists as well as their overnight stays was 10% lower each).

Data for the year 2012 is final. An overview of statistics by month (for 2012 as well as for previous years) can be viewed here. Provisional data for January 2013 can be viewed here.